Chapter 23
The season continued apace with the perfect amount of intrigue, gossip and entertainments to keep the Ton half exhausted.
Elizabeth was soon introduced to more than one available bachelor and soon had a string of gentlemen calling on her at Darcy House.
However, she remained unaffected. She obviously enjoyed the attention of eligible men but her heart seemed untouched.
There was only one man whom somehow, to her great displeasure, made her heart beat a little faster when he held her hand to get in and out of carriages, when they danced as they had done many times at numerous balls, and when they entered at numerous tea shops and milliners: Mr Darcy!
Every time this happened Elizabeth would berate herself for her foolishness: he is not for you, Lizzy. He will marry a rich and well-connected lady, not the likes of you who do not have two farthings to rub together.
But the more Elizabeth tried to strengthen her resolve against falling into such an impossible love, the more she seemed to fall. She decided that avoiding him would be the best way to teach her heart that she must not give into such flights of fancy.
So she started to spend a lot of time at her relatives at Gracechurch Street in Cheapside.
Jane, who was now officially engaged to Mr Bingley, had fortuitously come to town to buy her trousseau and the two sisters had a lot to catch up on.
Soon, Lady Anne and Georgiana started to accompany her to Cheapside too and against all social norms they became great favourites with Mrs Gardiner and the children.
One day the conversation turned towards the theatre,
“Oh, Jane, Lizzy,” Mrs Gardiner said enthusiastically, “there is a new production of Romeo and Juliet that is opening next week at Drury Lane. Would you like to go?”
“Oh Aunt, that would be wonderful,” Elizabeth said, already imagining the splendour of the production.
She had already been to the theatre with the Darcys where they had watched Coriolanus, the most intensely political and tedious Roman affair that had left Elizabeth practically suicidal. However, attending a romantic tragedy with her beloved family would be much better.
After an animated conversation about plays, about who liked tragedies and who preferred comedies, Mrs Gardiner declared, “I will ask your uncle to secure us tickets for opening night… although it will be a crush.”
“Mama,” Georgiana cried, “may we go too?”
Lady Anne smiled warmly, “of course my dear, going to the theatre for the opening night of anything is a traditional part of the season.” She turned to Mrs Gardiner, “but you will not need to secure tickets in the gallery. You are all invited to watch Romeo and Juliet from our private box.”
“Oh my lady,” Mrs Gardiner said, disquieted, “we would not want to fill your box with our family; you probably have guests of your own.”
Lady Anne winked at Mrs Gardiner, “yes, I most certainly have guests of my own - you!” She waved her hand around the room to include all.
“Please, say yes Mrs Gardiner,” Georgiana pleaded sweetly.
The matron from Cheapside smiled at her guests, “well, how can we refuse such a congenial invitation, so heartfelt and charmingly delivered?” She teased Georgiana who laughed with joy.
“What will Mr Darcy say about this invitation my lady?” Elizabeth asked nervously.
Lady Anne turned to her in surprise, “what should he say other than what an excellent notion, Mother?”
Elizabeth shook her head smiling at the lady, “are you certain he would not mind?”
“Miss Bennet,” Lady Anne said feigning exasperation, “I have already told you that what William thinks or says has little bearing on what I do. Why do you insist on doubting my word on the matter, young lady?”
Jane was not aware of the banter between Elizabeth and the grand lady; so she quickly said, “please accept Lizzy’s apologies my lady, she does not mean to doubt you.”
Lady Anne and Elizabeth burst out laughing,
“Do not concern yourself Miss Bennet, Elizabeth and I understand each other.” Lady Anne said reassuringly and winked at Elizabeth.
They finished the tea and soon after that Elizabeth and the Darcy ladies returned to Darcy house to rest and then dress for a dinner party at Lord Ashcombe’s house.
***
The lamps outside Drury Lane Theatre burned like scattered stars against the damp London evening while the crush of carriages before the grand entrance was so thick that servants shouted themselves hoarse trying to clear a passage.
Ladies in silks and jewels swept up the stone steps beneath the golden glow of chandeliers, while gentlemen in dark coats bowed and offered gloved hands.
Elizabeth was beside Mr Darcy, Lady Anne and Georgina and she regarded the splendid scene with unconcealed delight, while they waited for the rest of their party.
“I declare,” she said softly, “London appears determined to outshine itself tonight.”
“You sound astonished,” Lady Anne replied good humorously.
“I am only trying to decide whether I admire the theatre itself more than the audience.”
“Then you must not allow the gentlemen to hear you say so,” Darcy said gravely, “they would be deeply offended.”
Elizabeth gazed up to his face. Although his voice sounded serious, almost sombre, there was a slight warmth in his eyes. She smiled, “I did not know that gentlemen possessed such delicate vanity.”
“Some gentlemen possess nothing else.”
Before she could answer, a booming voice joined them making her jump, “Miss Bennet! Fortune has favoured me indeed.” Colonel Darnley bowed over her hand with a flourish.
Elizabeth had met the colonel only once at Lady Kavanagh’s ball, but he seemed already exceedingly eager for her company.
He bowed respectfully to Lady Anne and Georgiana and nodded his head coolly to the gentleman hovering about Elizabeth.
“Darcy.” He said almost tersely.
“Darnley.” Darcy responded equally coldly.
He then turned to Elizabeth, “what a fortunate coincidence, for the last time we met we were talking about the theatre and I then wanted to explain to you why the theatre is infinitely superior in Town than the country.”
“Did you?” Elizabeth asked, “I do not remember that conversation, sir, but I am happy to hear why you feel this way.”
“Then I shall dedicate the entire evening to expounding the superiority of the London theatre to you, Madam.”
“Another day perhaps,” Darcy interrupted, “our party arrives and we must make our way to our box.”
Elizabeth turned to see Jane climbing the steps on Mr Bingley’s arm and her aunt and uncle behind them.
The colonel looked disappointed and he looked wistfully at Lady Anne, “I have no party of my own tonight, I am here all alone.”
The lady chose to respond to his blunt plea for an invitation just as bluntly, “I am sorry to hear it Colonel Darnley, but our box is already full.”
“Good evening to you Darnley, enjoy the play.” Darcy bowed and turned away hoping the colonel would take the hint and walk off.
As the others arrived, hugs between the ladies ensued and the men thumped each other on the back.
Lady Anne smiled at Mr and Mrs Gardiner and explained that the Matlocks with their three grown up children, plus another cousin were also going to join them tonight.
Darcy then offered his arm to Elizabeth and Georgiana while Bingley did the same to his mother as well as Jane, leading them up the wide marble staircase to their private box, the Gardiners bringing up the rear.
As it turned out, Darcy was very happy to have the chance to meet the Gardiners in a public place.
He had been concerned that the couple might be like Mrs Bennet, but he was pleasantly surprised when he realised they were nothing like that lady.
In fact they behaved better than many titled peers, a feat that was actually not that hard, when considered soberly, he had to admit.
Elizabeth accepted his arm, aware - although she could not have said precisely why - that he seemed pleased to be rid of Colonel Darnley.
The theatre proper glowed with crimson velvet, gilded balconies, and candlelight reflected in countless mirrors. Music drifted from the orchestra below while the audience buzzed with conversation and expectation.
Their party occupied an excellent box overlooking the stage. Elizabeth was still looking around in awe when the Matlocks arrived, bringing with them their oldest son Bradley, as well as Richard, Emily and Lord Holton also.
There was also another young lady, a Miss Martha Moncrieff, who seemed to be Bradley’s guest. A timid and beautiful young woman who blushed constantly, marking her as the epitome of the Ton’s ideal, a delicate English rose.
Introductions were made and then Elizabeth seated herself and hoped that Georgiana and Jane would occupy the chairs to her side. But to her surprise Lord Holton took the seat to her left, promptly starting observations about the actors, the scenery and society in general.
Darcy remained standing behind them, one hand resting upon the back of Elizabeth’s chair.
At first she scarcely noticed his sullen expression and silence, for Lord Holton was indeed very entertaining when he wished to charm, soaking up all her attention.
“I have long believed,” declared the Scottish lord, “that the theatre exists merely to produce beautiful scenes. Yet tonight it has failed entirely.”
“And why is that?” Elizabeth was confused.
“Because every warm-blooded male in this building must, inevitably, have his eyes resting upon you instead of the stage.”
Darcy groaned loudly, Richard guffawed and Bradley harrumphed, “you see, Miss Elizabeth, this is why poets ought never to be permitted in public.”
Elizabeth laughed but she felt rather than saw Darcy grow even stiffer behind her, if that was possible.
When the curtain rose, Lord Holton reluctantly fell quiet. Yet even during the performance he would lean toward her with whispered remarks, repeatedly seeking her opinion upon every speech and scene.
Sitting directly behind them Darcy could not even tell what play was being performed on stage.